Equipment:
- 6 stumps or cones for bases.
- Rounders bat (or short baseball bat)
- Small ball.
Most people are familiar with rounders (very similar to baseball), but it is included here because not only is it a very useful, especially for large groups on long summer evenings, but also because it is often asked for. No doubt there are probably some official rules for this game. but eh basic rules are as follows:-
Setting up
Set out the rounders pitch as shown with at least 4 metres distance between posts. Divide into teams and decide which team is going to bat first. One person from this team stands at batsman’s position (Bt) while others waiting their turn stand/sit a short distance away. The other ‘fielding’ team divide up so that a person stands at each of the four bases (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th) one person becomes the bowler (Bw) and another the backstop, remaining players space themselves around the playing field. There are no boundaries.
Playing
The objective is for the batsman to hit the ball so that he/she can run around the four bases without stopping and completing a ’rounder’. Once 4th base is achieved a batting player is considered home and safe. Only one whole rounder at a time may be scored. This can not be done by hitting the ball over a boundary, as there are none.
Game can be played either by whole rounders only being scored or half rounders being awarded for each team member that safely makes it home (4th base).
Each base may at any one time hold only one member of the batting team.
The batsman has three attempts at hitting the ball. If they hit it they have to run. If they miss it they can choose whether to run or not, but must run after the 3rd ball regardless of missing it or not.
If the batsman runs on a missed ball they can only go to first base. This includes when running on the 3rd ball if it was missed.
When a batsman hits the ball they try and run to as many of the bases as they wish in an attempt to complete a rounder. The only exception being if they hit the ball so that it goes behind them, in which case the backstop or referee calls “first base only” restricting the batsman to reaching that base only.
Members of the batting team that don’t complete a circuit have to stay in place and try and finish running around when somebody else bats. They may only move when the ball is thrown. All players must stop running if the bowler holds the ball (“All stop”).
Members of the batting team can be run out if the base they are running to is ‘stumped’ (touched) by a member of the fielding team holding the ball before they reach it. Batsmen running round may not run ahead of any players in front of them or be on the same base, so if a batsman stops at a base because the base in front of them has been stumped they can be run out accidentally if the player behind continues running and displaces them from the base they are on. Players may not return to a base once they have left it.
If a player is run out they are no longer allowed to bat for the team in that round.
If the fielding team catch ball before it bounces the whole of the batting team are out and teams swap around. Teams also swap around if all members of the batting team are out.
